The Bulgarian Ministry of Health has floated new dedicated funding for gambling addiction treatment and prevention.
These latest proposed measures seek to further financially bolster therapy and additional addiction support initiatives aimed at young and vulnerable persons that may be struggling with problem gambling. Indeed, the Ministry has already undertaken measures including the creation of a new eHealth mobile application which contains information around gambling addiction – such as associated risks, warning signs and support networks.
However, these newly proposed initiatives will spell concrete alterations to Bulgaria’s 2024 gambling Act – if they are approved. Currently, the nation utilises an annual gambling industry revenue contribution system towards socially responsible initiatives. Licensed operators ensure that contributions are directed towards the National Revenue Agency, which then splits the proceeds between the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Health.
Now, the suggested changes to the regulatory act outline a more clarified application procedure for evaluating and financing responsible gambling initiatives.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Health, Mihail Okoliyski commented on the development, saying: “According to data from the National Revenue Agency, nearly 50,000 people have currently voluntarily registered in the register of vulnerable persons with limited access to gambling, which outlines the scale of the problem and the need for consistent policies”
Recent updates from the Bulgarian market saw the Ministry of Sport motion to replace members of the Sports Totalizator (BST) management board, as the previous management team supported policies aimed at transferring BST – a state-owned entity – into private ownership.
Elsewhere this month, the Bulgarian Football Union also moved to ban betting by any personnel involved in the nation’s football industry – as an additional Bulgarian MP also proposed a blanket gambling advertising ban as the nation continues to move through a period of regulatory change.
In 2025, BGN 4m ($2.37m) was set aside by the Bulgarian Government to fund gambling addiction support
